NorthPoint Astrology Journal Written by Pam Younghans It's been a very interesting couple of weeks. Things are still feeling The Lunar Eclipse that first week of August has had powerful effect. The past 10 days or so have felt very otherworldly, and it's hard to It will be interesting to see how that influence plays out in the Staying with the musical metaphor: While the orchestra continues to Saturn has the capacity to make us very aware of our limitations, but With Saturn now in Virgo, we are clearly aware of where things are This tendency to see only the negative may be strong as we begin the Perhaps it will be helpful to remember that Virgo's highest This is the only way to make true progress. If we hate what is, we Uranus in Pisces takes over the conductor's podium starting on Tuesday As our metaphorical conductor, Uranus has an entirely different style In effect, Uranus in Pisces wants us to play our own music, whatever It may be obvious by now that Uranus is known as the rebel of our Uranus forms a square -- a confrontational aspect -- with Mars on But what happens when Mars looks up from his music, waiting for his If you've ever been involved in creating music as part of a group, you The Uranus-Mercury opposition on Friday indicates that we will be In fact, throughout the week, we'll be making important adjustments in A quincunx occurs when planets are 150 degrees apart from each other, My favorite resource on aspect interpretation, Bil Tierney's book The "Urges us to undergo major and minor adjustments (usually through the All of these adjustments and changes within one week -- and there's The term "SuperMoon" was relatively recently coined. It describes when Thursday's New Moon is our first lunation after the recent spate of The Sabian symbol for 28 degrees of Leo, the position of this New "Many little birds on a limb of a big tree: A wide, and perhaps The keywords for this symbol are "Overwhelmed with Potentialities," "There is a stage in the spiritual life -- which is not different from Taken in tandem with the Uranus transits we've already been talking This New Moon is significant also because it opposes the three planets Neptune is the driving force in this particular interaction, which Other planetary configurations also appear in the chart for this New A Grand Cross indicates tension leading to change, and so we are "Invoke Uranus in Pisces for inspiration, Saturn and Mercury in Virgo We are gradually moving into the next big phase of societal change, The energy of this Pluto-Uranus-Saturn T-square is not yet solidified, A yod formation is another important component of this week's New Moon Bil Tierney writes that in a yod formation: "Inner and outer forces are working together to stimulate subtle but The "apex" planet in our New Moon quincunx is quite significant -- With the Triad at the yod's apex, we are compelled to make some Neptune, when used unconsciously, chooses avenues of escape rather The lower vibration of Chiron keeps us stuck in the memories of The lesser manifestation of Jupiter leads to disorganization, and too The other planets, the ones completing the yod formation, are a Venus- All in all, quite a week. Be sure to make the time to go outside and Blessings, Pam NorthPoint Astrology Blog: Check out my blog during the week for About the Journal
Your guide to astrological energies for August 17 to 23, 2009
Highlighted Aspects
Monday: Neptune biquintile Venus, Mars sextile Sun, Saturn conjunct
Mercury, Neptune opposite Sun, Jupiter quincunx Mercury, Neptune trine
Mars; Tuesday: Uranus trine Vesta, Uranus quincunx Sun, Uranus square
Mars; Wednesday: Saturn sextile Venus, Jupiter quincunx Venus, Chiron
quincunx Mercury, Saturn quincunx Jupiter; Thursday: New Moon 3:02am
PDT, Neptune quincunx Mercury, Chiron quincunx Venus; Friday: Uranus
opposite Mercury; Saturday: Neptune quincunx Venus, Uranus trine
Venus, Sun enters Virgo; Sunday: Pluto trine Sun
Photo: An "unexpected" aurora borealis on August 12 captured on film
by Robert Postma of Fort Simpson, Canada. This aurora was a surprise
to astronomers, who can usually predict the occurrence of Northern
Lights based on increased solar winds reaching the Earth's atmosphere.
These particular Lights appeared without the usual physical
predictors.
a little hazy this morning, even though the sun is (finally!) shining
brightly here in the Pacific Northwest after several days of clouds,
rain and below-normal temperatures.
Perhaps that is due in part to it being the last of three
transformational eclipses, the energy of each building on the
vibration already introduced by the one before. If we think of the
threesome as a jazz trio, maybe we can imagine the first eclipse on
July 7 as the piano playing solo, joined by the guitar on July 21, and
finally adding in the drums on August 5 for the complete effect.
exactly remember what's been happening. In fact, dreams (and for some,
nightmares) have been on the increase and quite complex during this
time. Some of the fogginess and interdimensional journeying can also
be attributed to the increased influence of Neptune, Chiron and
Jupiter (the Triad), which have all been in close aspect to both the
Sun and Mars for much of this past week.
coming week, as it will be again amplified on Monday by Neptune's
opposition to the Sun and trine to Mars, then interrupted by a Uranus-
Mars square on Tuesday, and then reinforced again by the Super New
Moon opposing the Triad on Thursday.
play last week's "T-square Tango" throughout the coming week, we'll be
starting to feel Uranus' influence more prominently than before. Up
until now, Saturn has had the baton, beating out the rhythm and making
sure each note was played accurately. Predictably, we've been facing
some of the fears of not doing things "right," as well as feeling the
pressure of needing to play the notes exactly as written.
at the same time helps us know what tangible steps we need to take if
we're going to make progress toward our goals. The problem is, that
while Saturn is strong, we may be paying more attention to the
conductor's baton than to the beautiful composition we're playing. Or,
we may be so focused on playing the notes correctly that we neglect to
put any feeling into the sounds we're creating.
imperfect -- in our lives, in our jobs, in our relationships, in
ourselves. The positive intention to this increased clarity is that we
might take responsibility both for what is and for what can be.
However, clearseeing Virgo can also become overly fixated on what's
wrong, sinking into a pit of criticalness and depression based on the
belief that there is no hope.
week and Saturn aligns with Mercury. In some ways, Monday may be a
good day to do editing or other work that requires strong attention to
detail and the exacting eye of discernment. It may be less of a good
day to rely on tactfulness when faced with a situation or a
relationship that needs improvement.
manifestation is Unconditional Love: that ability to see imperfections
and to understand the steps that can be made toward improvement, while
at the same time holding love and acceptance for what is, in spite of
those flaws.
will carry that discontent forward with us into whatever we create
next. If we accept what is, while also taking steps toward
improvement, we open the door for loving what becomes -- and what we
become.
-- and may very well do so in abrupt manner. Between the Uranus-Mars
square on Tuesday and the Uranus-Mercury opposition on Friday, there
are likely to be a few unexpected notes sounded.
from Saturn. Instead of beating out notes with a baton, Uranus may
wave his hands in time with the beat or, equally as likely, may seem
to be reading an entirely different score than we are playing from.
comes from our hearts and souls, possibly with complete disregard to
the notes written in the score. This avant-garde conductor knows that
we each have a director within us that will guide us to play much more
beautifully than we could by following any outside influence. And if
the notes we play aren't in harmony with the rest of the orchestra,
perhaps that's even better, as playing from the heart is more
important than playing by the rules.
solar system. When Uranus takes over the stage energetically, there's
really no telling where things will end up -- but we do know we won't
be bored, and that we'll learn something about ourselves as
individuals in the process.
Tuesday evening (PDT). Mars is currently in Gemini, activating our
logical minds and energizing us to take action based on reason and
facts. If Mars were in the orchestra, he might be in the percussion
section, keeping a steady beat based on what the musical meter has
defined.
cue from Uranus for the big drum roll -- and Uranus either gives the
cue at an unexpected time, or doesn't give it at all? Or what if the
conductor has left the podium entirely, trusting that the orchestra
can intuit their way through the piece?
know the answer to that one. There's the potential for chaos to ensue,
for everyone to lose their place and for the piece to disintegrate
entirely. But, there's also the possibility that the excitement and
focus created by the lack of structure will result in beautiful music
being created, as each person's attention and intuition is fully
engaged, and the music is felt rather than prescribed.
challenged to see things from a different perspective than we might
have before -- and that the decisions we reached on Monday, when
Saturn conjoined Mercury, are already being called into question.
attitude and perspective. This is reflected in the fact that there are
eight "quincunx" aspects in our Highlighted Aspects list for the week
-- a large number for a seven-day period.
and are in incompatible signs. It represents the need to modify how
we've always done or thought about something.
Dynamics of Aspect Analysis, says that a quincunx:
process of alteration or elimination). It seems to require that we
observe our usage of energies in a careful, methodical way so that we
can learn how to become more selective, discriminating, organized, and
efficient. The quincunx pinpoints how and where we tend to drain
forces in a haphazard, nonproductive fashion. Its basic role is that
of breaking down and removing those noneffectual attitudes that
interfere with our ongoing growth."
also a Super New Moon on Thursday! Maybe this is a good time to take a
short water/tea/coffee break before we go further...
a Moon is at perigee (its closest proximity to the Earth) at the time
of either its new or full phase. SuperMoons are said to intensify the
effects of a lunation, although not to the same extent as an eclipse.
eclipses, and represents the opportunity to put to work much of what
we have learned and assimilated over the past six weeks. A New Moon is
the beginning of the lunar cycle, and so indicates we will be planting
the seeds we want to see bear fruit over the next two weeks.
Moon, reads:
confusing, openness to a multiplicity of inspiring potentialities."
and the interpretation reads in part:
the everyday life -- during which the consciousness, aspiring to
greater realizations or more impressive forms of self-expression,
feels itself flooded with new ideas and new possibilities. This can be
very exciting, yet also quite confusing. It becomes necessary to focus
oneself by limiting one's field of vision and activity. We should try
not to be overwhelmed with potentialities, yet should enjoy the
wonderful lightness of feeling this may bring after perhaps many days,
months or years of frustration or darkness."
about, it sounds like its an important week to stay openminded and
flexible. Life is no longer defined in terms we once knew, and this is
actually a good thing.
in our Triad: Neptune, Chiron and Jupiter. This places our personal
needs and desires, represented by the Sun/Moon in Leo, in contrast to
the perspective of the All and the needs of the community.
means this New Moon is another step in our process of dissolving old
ways of looking at reality. It may also involve some disillusionment,
as we can see both the ideal manifestation and how far we need to
grow. But it is this disillusionment, "the confusion felt by the
little birds on the limb of a big tree," that helps us release our
attachment to the drama and enables the opening to a new, more
inclusive, more unified perspective of reality.
Moon. One of these is a Grand Cross involving the Saturn-Uranus
opposition in Virgo-Pisces, and an out-of-sign opposition between Mars
in Gemini and Pluto in Capricorn.
challenged now to move forward. I especially appreciate Stephanie
Austin's description of how to use the energies of this Grand Cross,
published in the current issue of The Mountain Astrologer:
for practical solutions, Mars in Gemini for courage, and Pluto in
Capricorn for the strength to 'feel the fear and do it anyway.'"
represented astrologically by what will be an ongoing T-square between
Pluto, Uranus and Saturn. In particular, we are looking toward the
first Saturn-Pluto square in mid-November, and the first cardinal T-
square (when all three planets are in cardinal signs) in July 2010 --
at the same time that Jupiter conjoins Uranus and the Sun in Cancer
aligns to form another Grand Cross.
and yet we may see some clues as to what will be involved through the
events of this week, with Mars filling in that extra leg in the cross.
chart. This pattern is formed when two planets in sextile aspect (60
degrees apart) both form a quincunx aspect to a third planet. A yod is
known as "the Finger of God" since the energy is strongly focused on
the one planet (called the "apex") that is involved in both quincunx
aspects.
heightened pressures which may eventually release themselves during a
timely crisis in self-awareness. The individual is then ripe and ready
for a very fated change or destined new outlook in life. The course of
action then taken can completely reprogram the entire focus of the
life."
because it is not one planet, but our Triad of Neptune, Chiron and
Jupiter.
significant adjustments in how we've been handling certain issues.
Specifically, we must choose the higher vibrational manifestations of
each of our Triad planets, as our means of achieving the new outlook
and new direction the yod represents.
than roads of enlightenment, and the role of martyrdom instead of
service to the Whole -- of which we each are a part. The yod tells us
that it is time to understand the difference between those options.
And, when we do, we can gain access to all of the inspiration,
creativity and spiritual guidance that Neptune represents.
rejection and abandonment, and sees the self as victim. The yod
reveals the importance of both loving the aspect of ourselves that is
wounded, while at the same time understanding how those situations
were instrumental in strengthening our individuality and purpose. As
we gain this awareness, we can move forward with greater trust in our
ability to choose and to navigate our unique path.
much expansion without the processing that gives meaning and purpose
to life. The yod requires an adjustment in the existing belief
structure that has resulted in chaos, and supplies the opportunity and
optimism needed to align effective action with an ideal.
Vesta conjunction in Cancer and a Saturn-Mercury conjunction in Virgo.
This means that our yod process may be initiated from two different
directions. It may be through an awareness of our own emotional
vulnerability or by our empathic response and commitment to someone in
need (Venus-Vesta). Or, our process may be started as early as Monday,
when the Saturn-Mercury conjunction is exact, and we come to terms
with a truth we had previously overlooked or ignored.
enjoy some of that sunshine.
updates on what's going on astrologically and energetically -- and
please share your comments and experiences as well:
http://northpointastrology.blogspot.com/.
Astrologer Pam Younghans writes this weekly NorthPoint Journal based
on planetary influences and guidance received. Her hope is to offer
perspectives and insights that will assist you in utilizing current
energies for your greatest benefit and for the benefit of All.